Method of controlling and apparatus for producing ionic discharges.



. 0. F. COMSTOCK. METHOD OF CONTROLLING AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING IONIC DISCHARGES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. HI I9l5.

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' o.'F.c0iwsT0cK. METHOD OF CONTROLLING AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING IONlC DISCHARGES.-

I APPLICATION FILED NOV. H. I9I6. 1,279,990. I PatentedSept; 24,1912;

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1,279,990. J Summation! r Patented Sept.

- Application filed llovembcr 14,1816. le riel illalililfl.

To allwhomdt may-concern: ,c a ing arcs are familiar tovthoses killed'in the Be't known that I, DANIEL F. Coms'roox, art as consequences of 'increasing th a citizen ofthe United States,andares1dent I p I -I of Brookline,in the county of Norfolkand Forthe projection purposes to Stateof Massachusetts, haveinvented new intended use of myinventionqanpa struck S I a and useful Improvements in Methods of between electrodes situated with-{1r ationf to -r controni A tu for Producing oneanother at anangle difiering consider- Ionic Disc arges, "of which the followlng is. ably froma straightangle; for instance atja a ifi ti n rlghtangle, has'the'advantage of exposing hisinvention relates toa method of and the area ofsgreatest luminosit toanoptical a meansfOr producing an ionic discharge, and axls arranged in thelongitudmal axi s fmfl I i. "particularly; to the maintenance thereby of I positive carbon, thus'permitting thepositive-f p an intense source of light in a constant p0 carbon to be fed up as it is consume sition; More particularly, the invention reout altering the position injspace o ftheinglates to a. method and means whereby-an arc tens'elx illuminated area. a Theefiect f carrying a heavy current may be used to pro 1ng,- 'vlbratlon, blowing and" wandering: of duce, on one of apair of electrodes, a steady the are under a, heavyv current is, "h a l incandescent area out of 'alineme'nt with the much increased bystriking the r other electrode and thus afford a: source of the electrodes at such an angle. intense illumination for projection appara- I have succeededlinovercom ng vltus and the like requiring a high degree of "cultles inc dent to Iangularpos light concentration, and whereby the arc and "electrodes, or to i y tively incandescent area may be maintained in subas for example of the order 0 U stantial-ly constant position.- i or to both the angular disposition Arc lamps of thebprior art; for instance electrodes and aflheavy"current, ;by;the focusing'lamps intended for usewith eleof apparatus as hereinafter,described'in eon ments of an-o tical system in which an innection with certain species'onlyofthe genus; tense source 0 illumination maintained in a, of devices characterized'by my. invention. I I relatively. constant position with respect to attribute the uccessful operationot these del the optical suriaces 1s a necessity, have herea tofOI'ebeen renderedlunsatisfactoqg whenwhich I shal now outline. v; ever the current value is increased eyond a The outside potential applied i it a critical figure, by several; well-known phebon terminals of an? arc causes a relectric 1 nomena. The positive-or crater-bearing car- ,force to existfat all pointshof ythe 85 bon presents at its surface the'region of throughout the region of thearai.

Featest luminosity'of the entire source of there exist vast numbersofzgxposr V ight, the glowing carbon on this side of the negative ions, these being in general vare gaps having vya higher specific emission t" i i th 11 any-other part of either the ionized vices to the a plication of certa n 40 stream constituting the are properfior the remainder of ithe "anode and cathodersurfaces. a, a When; ascompared withtherelative size of the carbon electrodes usuallyemployeicurt I 1 .rent density increases, the flow of the arc the mean free utemeenih anodeand cathode carbonsberwbeingoflthe or r ofm comes more andfmore disturbedi It is a Con frequentocurrence that the; spot of greatest negative; be

,tluininosit onthesurfaee ofthe positive carmotion which wan ers about the end of theca'rbon. culesof the fThearc itself expands and flames, sometimes by the heat en fl explosively. The 1vibrationof thearc within molecules,'ha 1mpr v a the space between'the, electrodes sometimes ingr motion in the g a1 comesviolent, and singing, hissing and flam electric force at that. point, in spa 'trinsic heat of the gas '11. general, this motion or drift, which in reality is the electric current itself, has a much smaller velocity than the random oscillatory velocity which corres nds to the int we'call the current corresponds, therefore, to this relatively slow migration of positive ions in one direction and negative ions in the other direction. Many complicated efiects occur other than those just mentioned, but the latter represent the broad lines of arc mechanisin.

The eflect of an electric field on ionized gas is therefore that the positive ions at point of the gas move in the direction of e electric force at that point and the negative ions move in the opposite direction.

The magnitude of the velocity, other things equal, is proportional to the strength of the electric field. Since ions are present in enormous numbers, and since positive ions attract all negative ions, it is impossible for 1 the stream of negative ions to become apmately preciably separated from the stream of positive ions, that is, because of forces between oppositely charged ions their numbers in equal volumes of gas are always approximately equal, and therefore any force tending to deflect or change the path of either the positive or the negative stream has to act under the limitation that the other stream must also be deflected an approxial amount. This necessity for the practical coincidence of the two ionic streams makes the region of the gas which is carrying the discharge closely resemble a plex stream t flexible conductor in its general mechanical behavior, the force acting on any part of the dischargebeing the resultant of the force acting on t e positive and negative streams at that point.

If a magnetic field is set up, the lines of force of which are at right angles to the direction of the ionic flow at a point in the gas, it will, according to a well-known electro-magnetic law, act with a deflecting force on both streams of ions in the same direction, this direction being at right angles both to the direction of the field and to the direction of the ionic stream. In this respect, therefore, the action of the ma etic field is in marked contrast to the action of an electric field. In the case of an electric field, the positive and negative ions are forced in opposite directions, and the comerefore ex eriences a resultant force equal to the di erence of the two forces, which is of relatively small magnitude. In the magnetic case, however, the fact that the ions are oppositely charged and are moving with rgipositely d rected veecting forces of the the gas because of its fluid nature is alwa s .readily movable, there is a motion of. t e

which are along the lines of ionic flow, is a very much less marked effect than that produced by 'a transverse field of the same strength, but if the lon 'tudinal field is increased in intensity su ciently, it is found experimentally that it has a stabilizing and concentrating action on the ionic discharge, as will hereinafter be more fully described. If the magnetic field is along the line joining the centers of the electrodes but if the discharge is not accurately centered, that is, if the discharge by chance leaves one of the carbons a little to one side, then the "path of discharge between the electrodes will in general take the form of a spiral. If the field is strong enough and if the arc is lon enough, a complete rotation of this spira may be easily observed. On the other hand, if the field is weak or if the arc is short, there may not be room for a complete revolution, and only will be'observed. The spiral form of discharge may also be produced, although 1cm symmetrical in form, if the discharge is approximately central and the longitudinal field slightly tipped away from the axis of the discharge gap.

In the case of the right-angle arc, complicated phenomena are introduced because of the magnetic field which is created by the ionic flow and which is inseparable therefrom. This magnetic field of the ionic stream has no pronounced effect on the ordinary 180. are because the lines of force of the field are in the form of circles about the axis of the stream and the deflecting forces dueto it, therefore, cancel themselves out in all directions over the whole ionic stream. But in the case of the right-angle are, or other are playing between electrodes which are angularly disposed with respect to each the beginning of the spiral other, the arc is bent outwardly by the action of its own magneticfield. This is due to the fact that its field is more intense within the angle defined by the electrodes than without this angle, as may be explained by considering that the portions of the circular lines of force surrounding the are current which are within the angle defined by the electrodes are crowded together while the portions of the circular lines of force which are without this angle are spaced more widely apart. This expansive action of the magnetic'field on the current itself in the case of the 90 arc makes it impossi-ble to obtain a symmetrical crater whencurrents larger than about ,35 amperes are' used. .When larger currents are applied the crater tends to form on the outer side of the end of the positive electrode, and in wthe" end is unstable and generally unsatisfactory.

By the present invention 1 have devised a method ofand means for overcoming the difliculty which'involves the utilization of the a two principles before enunciated,

namely, the directive action on the arc of a transverse field and of a much stronger longitudinal .field. When both of thesefields act together "tllelresultant fieldis approximatelyjlongitudinal of the discharge path ably controlling the magnetic field a stable, 020' that the crater can be maintained accurately because the strictly longitudinal component is much stronger than the transverse. Such a composite approximately longitudinal field I overcomes the expansive tendency of the right-anglearc, stabilizes it, and also contralizes it; and I have found that bysultsymmetrical crater can be produced, and

at right anglesto the axis of the positive carbon, when employing an arc discharge of as high @120 amperes.

the entrainment by an optical system of a high percentage of the light emitted by the arcowing to the fact that the incandescent area on the crater carbon can be positioned 'normallyto the optical axis instead of obliquely thereto asinthe case of the-ordinary apparatus having the electrodes approximately parallel and approximately in alinementg th'emaintenance of the incandescent area in constant positlon on the end of the ,"-positive electrode by virtue of the directing and stabilizing efi'ect ofthe impressed magnetic field; the maintenance of the incandescent area in alinement with the optical system by virtue of the fact that the positive electrode may be disposed along the optical axis of the. system and may therefore be fed directly along the axis as the electrode is consumed, whereby small irregularities in" the "feeding velocity are not objectionable asi'n the case of the ordinary are where the direction of feed is normal to or oblique to the'optical axis and where irregularities in the feeding velocity therefore result in lateral variation inthe position of the incan-, descent area with respect to the optical axis and all of the above together with a possible increase of at least from 100 to 200 per a cent. in the magnitude of. controllable discharge current, and a corresponding increase a in the total amount of light emitted by the arc,-due to" the stabilizing influence of the impressed magnetic field.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a method of control for electric arcs with respect to the prevention of flaming, blowing, vibration, wandering, l11ssing',singing, etc., as'well as to provide suita e apparatus for conveniently and efliciently cartrying out the improved methodof control;

The principal objects of the invention are from the following r light of the accompanying drawings, in whichp r Figure l'is aside elevation of theassembled ap )aratus showing longitu inal cross section;

and still further ob lects will be a parent. escription read in the 1o parts in vertical Fig. 2 is a front elevation of theelectrodes showing the lateralloifset feature;-i

.Fig. 3 is a detail view showin' the dispo sition of the lines of magnetic ux spect to the ends of the electrodes;

Fig. 4 is a verticallongitudinal section of 7 a portion of a modified form of apparatus in which the magnetic pole pieces are as metrically disposed with, respect to the 'e ectrodes shown in- Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating another pole pieces do not surround the electrodes;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of illustrated in Fig. 6; a t

Fig. '8 is a side detail view ofla modified Fig. ,5 a front elevation of th'e'detail I at I modification of the invention inwwhichthe the detail form of apparatus'in which the electrodes are arallel but out of alinement;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the detail shown in F1g. 8;

Fig. 10 is an end view of the detail shown in Fig. 8' with the pole pieces omitted;

Figs. 11 and 12 are diagramsillustrating the theory of operation of the apparatus;

and t Fig. 13 is a diagram showing; the field coil connectedin series with the arc electrodes;

The preferred embodiment ofthe apparaq it tus illustrated in Fig. 1, comprises a ne tlve electrode 1, a positive electrodefl, t e

nally to reciprocatein the sleeve -'3 of refracpositive electrode being mounted longituditory material, and-the negative electrode 1.,

being mounted longitudinally -1to reciprocate in the refractory sleeve 4 and conduct- 4 are fixedly'mounted in theframe 5 54 4 iron.

a suitable circuit including regulating resistby means of a coilO surrounding the mem her 6 and being connected to the source of current through the adjustable resistance r.

IIB

Instead of connecting the coil 0 in parallel v with the arc electrodesit may be connected in series therewith, in which arrangement the intensity of the magnetic field produced by the coil 0 will vary in accordance with I it. with 'rep" no I ingsleeve 11. The refractory sleeves 3 ma variations in the arc current. Thus in Fig. 13 I have shown the coil 0' connected in series with the source G, resistance R, and electrodes 1' and 2.

It has been found that better results can be obtained under certain circumstances with a negative electrode of very small diameter, but when operating upon currents of large magnitude, as for example to 100 amperes, the

negative electrode, if made quite small, becomes heated to a high temperature through its entire length when the current is su plied to-it at'its rearward end as is the or mary practice. This not only rapidly disintegrates the electrode but the heat radiated therefrom seriously interferes with the 0 eration of adjacent apparatus, especially w on used in light projection apparatus. Thisdifliculty may be overcome by supplying current to the electrode near its operative end thereby limiting the high temperature to the o tive end which must, of necessity be of high temperature. Suitable means for this pur ose comprises a conductin sleeve 11 whi is preferably composed 0% graphite and which 1s of such size as snugly to fitin the refractory sleeve 4 and to permit the electrode to be freely fed therethrough as it is consumed by the arc. Suitable means for holding the sleeve 11 in place and for-supplying current to the sleeve, consists in an internally threaded flange 15 surrounding the flange 14 on the lower end of sleeve 11 and being secured to the frame piece 7 by means of a stud bolt 17 insulated from the flange 15b means of a tube 18 of insulating materia the tube 18 having a flange 19 engagin the head of the bolt. Inorder complete y to prevent electrical contact between the negative side of the circuit and the frame piece 7, a plate 20 of insulating material is preferably disposed between the flange 15 and the frame piece 7. Threaded into the flange 15 is a collar 16 having a recessed projection adapted to receive the end of the conductor 10. Thus, current is supplied to the negative electrode through collar 16 and the graphite sleeve 11 at points adjacent the operative end of the electrode and at points wholly inclosed by the graphite sleeve and the refractory casing 4. Owing to the fact that this portion of the electrode is wholly inclosed, no oxygen can be supplied to it from the surrounding air and, even though it becomes heated to a comparatively high temperature, rapid disintegration thereof is prevented.

The operation of the device'is as follows: When current is supplied to the electrodes and is gradually increased in intensity, the arc flame betweenthe opposed ends of the electrodes (gradually moves outwardly and upwardly ue to the fact that its own field increases in intensity in proportion to the increase of current and to the fact that its tirely blown out by its own field. Even with moderate currents the outward tendency of the arc causes the crater to be formed on the upper side of the positive electrode and owin to the variation in the direction of the are, t is crater does not remain stationary but moves with more or less rapidity over the end of the positive carbon. 7

When the electrical circuit through coil 0 is closed, however, and the magnetic circuit 567 is ener ed, thereb roduc' a stream of magnetl c -ilux across tlih gap li o tween the pole pieces N and S approximatel longitudinally of the line y connecting t e axes of the opposed electrodes, the tendency of the arc to expand is overcome and the ionic stream is caused to flow quietly and steadily from the tip of the negative electrode to the end of the positive electrode. By suitably adjusting the intensity of the magnetic field, the incandescent area on the end of the positive electrode may be caused to remain entirely steady and constant in position even with currents of the order of 100 amperes. By laterally ofl'setting one of the electrodes with respect to the other electrode as indicated in Fig. 2, the incandescent area may be maintamed perpendicular to the axis of the positive electrode indefinitely. It has been found that better results can be obtained by so winding the coil 0 that the pole piece N is of north polarity and the pole piece S is of south polarity, and this is especially true when the negative electrode is oifset to the left as represented. I It has been observed that the ionic stream in apparatus of the character described follows a spiral path and this I believe to be due to the phenomena illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 in which H represents the approximate direction of the impressed magnetic field, H the vertical component of the impressed field, H,, the horizontal component of the impressed field, and C the approximate direction in which the negative ions and electrons start from the negative electrode. The reason that the negative stream of ions and electrons moves directly outwardly from the negative electrode instead of movin toward the nearest portionof the positive e ectrode,'I believe to be due to the fact that the field produced by the are current is more intense within the angle defined by the electrodes than without this angle, as above stated. By virtue of the greater intensity of the field the angle. the ionic stream is forced outwardly and under props r e an conditions is directed u wardly aiiindiga ted by C. Ihasmuch as this current is directed along the verticalcom ponent H,- of the magnetic field, it is onl acted upon by the horizontalcomponent and, the action of the horizontal com .ll islto cause :the iomc stream to ban to the nent t in F' 12). This actionmay be exsin in tge, well-known mannerbyxrsa thatpthelines of force surrounding e ionic streamC are in the direction indicated by the small arrow in Fig. 11, and that this field augments the horizontal component 11,, on the left side of the stream (Fig; 12) while counteractin .the horizontal component on.

the rightsi e, of the stream, thereby causing the stream to move from the region of the strong field to the region of the weaker field, that is, to the right in Fig. 12. In like manner,the. imovement of, the ionic stream f fromleft to 'rightcauses it to be forced tof ward the positive electrode, as may be ex lained by the fact that the field produced y the lateral componentof movement 0 produces 'a field as indicated by the small arrow in Fig. 12 which augments the impressed magnetic field u on its ufiperouter e field onside and diminishes the orce of t its lower inner side. While the path of the ionic discharge has been traced in only two steps, it is obvious that both the vertical and lateral movements continue simultaneously and continuously throughout the entire path of the discharge between the. electrodes, thereby resulting in the spiral .movement heretofore referred to.

If the electrodes are spaced sufliciently far apart and the ionic stream and impressed niagnetic' field are properly adjusted, the

stream may make one or more complete spirals, alt ough in the particularembodiment of the apparatus herein disclosed the electrodes are sufiicientlyclose together and the impressed magnetic field is sufiiciently weak to cause the discharge to describe only a portion of a complete spiral revolution.

By spacin the electrodes farther apart and by proper? it is proba le that t e lateral offset of one electrode with respect to the other electrode may be rendered unnecessary owing to the fact that the discharge may make approximately a complete spiralrevolution under such conditions.

The diagram in. Fig. 3 which is an accuratere roduction of an iron-filinlg photograph ta en with a field of norma magnitudeimpressed on the region of the arc gap,

.. illustrates the fact that the field in the region of the are gap is angularly shifted aboutan axis (perpendicularto or approximately; perpen icular to a plane para lel to the two electrodes.

In this particular embodiment of the invention it appears that the lines of force adjustin the current and field,v

- been found that under certain circumstances gap between the electrodes even wherethe' passing through the end'of theine tive elw' trode do not intersect the end 0 the posi-{ tive'electrode centrally but thatthey intersect the end of the electrode somewhat above the center thereof, the lines of force which, 1 intersect the central portion of thevpositive. electrode passing on the inside of the end of the negative electrode. While this condi .tionis not thought tobe essential, it has From the above discussion it isobvioua that the spiral movement of the are dis Q I charges will cause the discharge to strike the positive electrode at a spot which is laterally offset from the emission area of the negative electrode except: in the case where the discharge makesjustthat fraction of one or more complete spiralfrevolutions' in transit, across the gap which will'bring "35 the discharge back into the plane of the negative elect-rode, this being due to the fact that the discharge necessarily moves laterally with respect to the lane ofjthe pressed ma etic field. owever, by anularly shi ting the impressed magnetic eld a out an axis" in a plane parallel to the electrodes, the ma neticfield may be reng' dered laterally oblique to theaxis of the a electrodes are in. exact alinement, and the". tendency of the discharge while transversely of the magneticfield, may still not be appreciably transversely of the. electrodes 1 l .y

a proximately or even exactly in the same} whereby the electrodes may be positionec p sac and yetproduoe an incandescent area on the end of the positive electrode which i is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the electrode. I

One suitable means of angularly shiftf ing the magnetic field is illustratedfm Figs,

4 and 5 wherein the magnetic poles are made asymmetric b providing reate'r mass-on the left side oft e southfpo e S and a greatcr mass on the right side of the north pole N. a c

With this arrangement the. s iral path' 20f of the arc discharge may bedirectedsomewhat transversely of the impressedmagnetic field H and still be centeredupon the end of the positive electrode thus producin" a uniform consumption of the positive eectrode throughout its end and thereforeafs,

fording a. constant disposition of the crater the axis of the positive electrode. 7 M

Another means for producing a magnetic field laterally oblique to the axis of the arc gap, which is somewhat similar to thatidisin normal or perpendicular relationship toiSO closed in Figs. 4 and 5,,is that shown in Figs. 126,,

6 and 7. In this embodiment of the invention the magnetic pole ieces N and S do not surround the electro es 1 and 2 asin the preceding figures, but they are disposed in" PProximate alinement with the axis of the lilo l I 15 it improves the operatlon' of the apparatus. i

so u

increases with increase of current.

are ga so as to produce a stream of magnetic ux comprising substantially straight parallel lines of force in the region of the arc discharge." While this streamof flux is approximately longitudinal of the arc gap', it is angularly shifted with respect to the arc gap both in the plane of the electrodes as indicated in Fig. 6, and in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the electrodes, as

indicated in Fig. 7 With this arrangement,

as in Figs. 4 and 6, the electrodes need be laterally displaced with respect to each other only slightly, if at all, in order to produce the incandescent area squarely on the end of the positive electrode in perpendicular relationship to the axis of the electrode.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 I have disclosed another arrangement embodying the principles of this invention wherein the electrodes may be disposed in parallelism and yet produce an incandescent area on the end of the positive electrode which is out of alinement with the negative electrode and which can consequently be disposed in normal relationship to the axis of an optical system. This result is accomplished by'ofl'setting the ne ative electrode both laterally and vertica y as shown in Fig. 10, and by employing magnetic pole pieces N and S which are asymmetrically arranged, the polepiece N having increased mass on its lower side, as shown in the side elevation of Fig. 8, and also on its left side, as shown in the plan view of Fig. 9, while the pole piece S has increased mass on its upper side as shown in Fig. 8, and on its right side as shown in Fig. 9. With this or a similar arrangement of the electrodes and pole pieces, the mag-" netic field can be so dlrected across the arc gap that the arc discharge C traveling in a spiral path will produce an incandescent area which is oblique to the axis of the positive electrode as indicated.- It will be observed that the same principles are involved in this arrangement as in the former arrangements, namely, the magnetic field is directed a proximately longitudinally of the axis 0? the arc gap but is an larly shifted somewhat with respect to th1s axis. While this arrangement may not be as satisfactory as the angular arrangement of the electrodes for some purposes, there are certain advantages in having the electrodes mounted in parallelism as in the ordinary arc apparatus.

Inasmuch as the field produced by the arc current increases with increase in the current, the lateral force tending to move the arc discharge outwardly and upwardly 11 order to overcome this tendency the impressed magnetic field may be increased in proportion to the increase in current b connecting the magnetic field coil in series with the arc circuit, as above explained, whereby the incandescent area may be maintained in constant position notwithstanding variations in the magnitude of the discharge current.

The herein disclosed means for supplying current to the negative electrode adjacent its operative end whereby the electrode may be made of relatively small cross-sectional area is of importance inasmuch as the ionic dischar playing between the angularly dispose electrodes can be more efi'ectively directed and controlled by means of the longitudinal magnetic field than when the operative end of the negative electrode is of larger size. 7

In the appended claims the word unidirectional 1s employed in contradistinction to an alternating or rapidly reversing current or field, and the expression suitable potential gradient along the gap signifies a rate of voltage drop between the opposing ends of the arc electrodes which is suitable to produce an ionic discharge of the desired magnitude. The word asymmetrical is used in contradistinction to the word symmetrical and as used with reference to the relative dis osition of the electrodes is intended to app y to any arrangement where fthe electrodes are out of alinement, as illustrated for example in the drawings wherein the electrodes are rendered asymmetrical elther by being angularly arranged with respect to each other, or laterally shifted With respect to each other, or both angularly arranged and laterally shifted relatively to each other.

I claim:

1. The method of producing an are discharge in a gap between opposed electrodes comprising producing a suitable potential gradient along the gap, creating a magnetic field in the region of the gap, and regulating the magnetic field relatively to the arc discharge so as to produce a steady incandescent area on one of the electrodes out of alinement with the other electrode.

2. The method of producing an are discharge m a gap between opposed electrodes comprising producing a suitable potential gradient. along the gap, creating in the-1 region of the gap an unidirectional magnetic field the lines of flux of which are directed approximately in the direction of the dischar e on every side of the. discharge,' and regu ating the magnetic field relatively-to the arc discharge so as to' produce a steady incandescent area on one of the electrodes out of alinement with the other electrode.

3. The method of producing an are discharge in' a gap between opposed electrodes comprising producing a suitable potential gradient along the gap, creating in the region of the ga an unidirectional magnetic field the lines o flux of which are approximately parallel throughout the region of the region of the angularly shi ted with respect to .the 8318 ing its lines of flux disp of the gap but angular gap and are approximatel "longitudinal of the gap and regulating t e magnetic field relatively to the arc discharge so as to produce a steady incandescent area onone of the electrodes out of alinement with v the other electrode.

4. The method of producing an ionic dis charge in a'gap'between opposed electrodes com risin producing a" suitable tent al gra ient a ong the gap creating t e re on of the gap aconcentrated ma etic' field avlongitudinally with respect to the axis of the gap, and regulating .t e magnetic field relatlvely to the gap to direct. the ionic discharge along an unchanging path between the electrodes.

1 5. The method of producing an ionic dischar in a gap between asymmetrically disose electrodes of positive and negative p0- arity, respectively, 7 comprising creating a 'suitablepotential gradient along the gap,

tia1 gradient along the gap, and creating in the region of the go. a stream of magnetic flux an ularly sli'i ted with relation to the axis of the gap a small amount so that the discharge is dlrected in a substantially unchanging spiral atli to the end of the positive electrode, t ereby malntammg on the positive electrode out of alinement wlth the negative electrode an incandescent area whichis steady and constant in position with currents up to the order of 100 amperes.

7 The method of producing an ionic dis charge in a gap betweenopposed electrodes com rising creating a suitable potential gra ient along the gap, creatmg n the p a stream of magnetic flux of the gap a small amount, and regulating the stream of magnetic flux so that the discharge is distributed over the end of one electrode in such manner that a steady incandescent areais maintained on the end of theelectrode out of alinement with the other electrode.

8. The method: of producing an ionic disin a ga between asymmetrically discharge pose electro es of positive and negative polarity, respectively, comprising creating a suitable potential gradient along the gap, and creatin magnetic fie (1 having components respectively transverse andlongitudinal "of the gap, so that the transverse component in the region of the gap a .netic. field o y shifted somewhattransverse and longitu directs the discharge to the end of the ngitudinal; com- Y tive, electrode an the 10 y ponent stabilizes the dischar e, wherebyfa steady incandescent area is ormed on the e negative electrode.

end of the positive electrode out of alinement with t 9. The method of producing an ionic discharge in a ga between asymmetrically disposed electro es of positive and negative polarity, respectively, comprising creating a suitable potential gradient along the .gap,

and GIBlltlIli in the region of the gap "a ma 1 aving components respective y inal of the that the transverse. com onent directs the discharge to the and o the. positive elec- Q trode and the longitudinal component stabilizes the dischar whereby a steady incandescent area. is ormedqon the end of the positive electrode out of alinement with: the negative electrode and in substantially normal relationship to the axis of the positive electrode.

10. The method of maintainin in con-q stant position on an anode a stea y-incancomprising producing an ionic flu'x passing through the portion of the-inl candescent area farthest'removed'from' the cathode pass through the central portion of I the lines of force passing throughthe porthe emission area of the cathode and that tion of the incandescent areanearest to the cathode whereby the ionic discharge is so distributed uniformly consumed and the asymmetry of the incandescent area is maintamed constant.

.11, Light rejection apparatus compris mg opposed e ectrodes having a gap there- A ass laterally of the central 'pori- 7 t1on of t e emission area. o f'the cathode,

, IOII.

over the incandescent area that the anode between, the electrodes being asymmetrically arranged so that a continuation of the axis of one electrode does not intersect the other. X

electrode, and a magnetic circuit havin a gap so disposed longitudinally of the e ec-' trodegap that a steady incandescent area is maintained on said one electrode out of,

alinemnt-withsaid other electrode. t 12. Light projection apparatus comprism ing positive and negative electrodes havinga gap therebetwe'en, the electrodes being asymmetrically arranged so that a con tinuation of the axis of the positive elecl 125 trode does nottintersect, the negative electrode, and a magnetic circuit havin agap so disposed longitudinally of thee ectrode I ga that a steady incandescent area'is main-;

tamed on the positive electrode out of alinement with the negative electrode.

v descent area which is asymmetrically osia tioned with respect to the opposin cat ode ischarge. across the gap between the electrodes, and creating a streamof magnetic flux across:

the gap in such manner that the lines of a for producing in the region 0 13. Light projection apparatus comprising mmetrically arran electrodes, means or producing an ionic discharge between the electrodes, and means for producing approximately along the discharge a magnetic field the strength of which is so related to the\ distance between and the asymmetry of the electrodes that a steady incandescent area may be maintained on the end of one electrode out of alinement with the other electrode.

14. Light rojection apparatus comprising electrod ds asymmetrically arranged with af'gap therebetween, means for producing 1 unidirectional ionic discharge across the said gap, and opposed pole pieces ap a concentrated magnetic field having mes of force directed ap roximately along the axis of the gap and aving a strength proportional to the distance between and the asymmetry of the electrodes so that a steady incandescent area is formed on one of the electrodes out of alinement with theother electrode.

15. Light projection apparatus comprising opposed positive and negative electrodes arranged at an angle of approximately 90 with respect to each other with the end of the positive electrode out of alinement with the negative electrode, means for producing an arc discharge between the opposed ends of the electrodes, and means including opposed magnetic pole pieces for maintainmg a magnetic field longitudinally of said discharge, the opposed ends of the pole pieces be' disposed in proximity to the opposed en of the electrodes respec-v tively.

16. Light projection apparatus comprising opposed electrodes angularly disposed with relation to each other, means for producing an ionic discharge therebetween,

and means for producing 1n approximately .parallel relation with saline 10in the axes of said electrodes a magnetic fie d of such intensity as to produce a steady incan descent area on one of said electrodes out of alinement with said other electrode.

17. Light projection apparatus comprising opposed electrodes angularly. disposed with relation to each other, means for producing an ionic discharge therebetween, and means comprising opposedmagnetic ducing an ionic discharge therebetween, v

the said poleilpieces'for 'producmg m apprommate P31 and means comprising opposed magnetic pole pieces surrounding sa1d electrodes respect1vely for producing along the ga between said electrodes a magnetic eld of such intensity as to cause the discharge to produce a steady incandescent area on one of said electrodes out of alinement with the other electrode.

19. Light projection apparatus comprising opposed electrodes angularly arranged wlth respect to each other so as to have an arcuate gap between the ends thereof, and means including opposed pole pieces for producing a concentrated stream of magnetic flux a ong said arcuate gap, the oppos pole pieces having, their magnetic axes so arranged substantially lengthwise of said arcuate gap as to direct said discharge to an unchangmg area on the end of one of the electrodes out of alinement with the other electrode.

20. Light projectionappara-tus comprising opposed electrodes angularly arranged with respect to each other so as to have an arcuate gap between the ends thereof, the angle between the electrodes being not greater than approximately 135, means for produc' an arc, discharge between the opposed e il s of said electrodes, and means including opposed pole pieces for producing a concentrated stream of magnetic flux along said arcuate gap, the opposed pole ieces having their magnetic axes so arrange substantially lengthwise of said arcuate gap as to direct sai discharge to an unchanging area on the end of one of the electrodes out of alinement with the other electrode.

ing opposed electrodes angularly disposed with relation to each other, means for pro ducing an arc discharge therebetween, means forcreating a proximately longitudinally of the path of ischarge a ma etic field so related to-the discharge as to direct said disto an unchanging area on the end of charge one ectrode out of alinement with the other electrode, andmeans for varying the intensity of said field in accordance with variations in the flow'of current between the electrodes so that said area is unchanging notwithstanding spontaneous variations in said discharge current.

22. Electrical apparatus comprising electrodes having .0 posing ends spaced apart, means for pr ucing an ionlc discharge across the. gap between the opposed ends of the electrodes, and means for producing in the region of the said gap a concentrated magnetic field having lines of force directed predominantly along the axis of the gap but angularly shifted somewhat with respect to the said axis so that a'steady incandescent area is formed on one of the electrodes out of alinement with the other electrode.

23. Electrical apparatus comprising elec- 21. Light projection apparatus compristrodeslhaving opposing ends spaced apart and being asymmetrically arranged with re- Spect to eachother, means for producing an ionic discharge along the gap between the opposed ends of the electrodes,and means for producing in the region of the said gap a concentrated magnetic field having lines of force directed predominantly along the is axis-of the gap but angularly shifted somewhat with respect to the said axis so that a steady incandescent area is formed on the end of one of the electrodes in substantially normal relationship to the axis of the elec trodes. a

24. Electrical apparatus comprising a 1 negative electrode and a positive electrode arranged with a gap between the ends thereof, the positive electrode having an introde and means candescent area oblique to a line connecting the centers of the opposing ends ot'the electrodes, means for producin' an ionic discharge from the negative to t e positive elecfor creating a concenstream of approximately parallel said gap but orientated relatively to said connecting line so that the lines of force passing through trated the center ofthe end of the negative elec-- trode are displaced from thecenter of the other end whereb the ionic discharge is distributed over tie incandescent area in such manner that the consumption of the anode is substantially uniform throughout the incandescent area and the said obliquity stant.

25. Electrical apparatus comprising a positive electrode and a negative electrode arranged with a gap between the ends thereof,,the positive electrode having an incandescent area oblique to a line connecting the centers of the opposing ends of the elecflux a trodes, means for produclng an ionic diselectrodes, and means for creating a concentrated stream of magnetic fproximately in the direction of electronic ow but angularly shifted relatively to said connecting line so that the lines o flux makemore acute angles with the in-' candescent area than said connecting line, whereby the ionic discharge is distributed over the incandescent area in such manner that the consumption of the anode is substantially uniform throu bout the incandescent area and the said 0 li uity of the incandescent area is maintaine constant.

26. Electrical' apparatus comprising a positive electrode and a negative electrode arranged with a gap between the ends thereof, the positive electrode having an incandescent area oblique to a line connecting the centers of the opposing ends of the electrodes, means for producin an ionic discharge between the electro es, and means for creating a concentrated stream of magnetic lines of flux along said charge is distributedover the is maintained conlarly shiftedrelatively to said 'conne'ct1ng line about an axisintersecting a, plane arallel with both electrodes so that the lmes a of Him make more "acute an lee with the incandescent area, whereby incandescent area in such manner that the consumption of the anode is substantiall throughout the area and the sai obliquity of the area is maintained constant; I 27. Electrical apparatus comprising an ularl disposed negative and positive e ectro es having'o means for pro ucing 811101110 discharge along the gap between the op osing ends of the electrodes, and means f dr creating a concentrated stream of approximately parallel magneticllines of flux along said gap so that the discharge is substantially uni formly distributed over the end of the positive electrode, and a steady incandescent area is maintained in constant position on the end of the positive electrode in substantially normal relationship to the axis of the electrode. a

gap but i e fionic disa uniform I posing ends spaced apart,

28. Electrical apparatus comprising asym- I gap substantially 'y arrangednegative and positive" un1formly distributed over the end of the positiveelectrode and a steady areais maintained in constant position on the end of the positive electrode out of alinement with the negative electrode.

29. Electrical apparatus comprising elec-' a opposing ends spaced apart,

trodes having the electrodes being arranged oblique] a with respect to each other, means for pr ucing an ionic discharge across the gap between incandescent the opposing ends of the electrodes, and

means for stream of magnetic flux the lines of'whlch areapproximately parallel and are angularlv shifted in a plane parallel to both electrodes so that a steady incandescent area is maintained in constant position on the end of the positive electrode.

producing throughout the gap a 30. Electrical apparatuscomprising elecl trodes disposed in spaced parallel planes,

means for producing an ionic discharge be tween opposing ends of the electrodes, and means for producing a stream of magnetic flux longitudinally of the centers of said opposing ends but angularly shifted with respect tov said line aboutv an axis intersecting said planes at angles of approximately 90 sot at a steady inthe line connecting a lace 100 I somewhat with relation to the axis of said.

candescent area is maintained in constant position on the end of the positive electrode.

31. Electrical apparatus comprising electrodes disposed in spaced parallel planes with a gap between the opposing ends thereof, means for producing an ionic discharge across said gap, and means for producing a stream of magnetic flux approximately along the line connecting the centers of said opposing ends, the stream of flux being angu arly shifted about an axis intersecting said planes so that a steady incandescent area is maintained in constant position on the end of the positive electrode in substantially normal relationship to the axis of the electrode.

32. Electrical apparatus comprising electrodes disposed in spaced parallel planes with a gap between the opposin ends thereof, means for p roduclng an e ectrical discharge across sald gap, and means for producing a stream of magnetic flux along the line connecting the centers of said opposing ends, the stream of flux being angularly shifted both in parallelism with and transversely to said planes so that a steady incandescent area is maintained in constant position on the end of the positive electrode, out of alinement with the negative electrode, and in substantiallv normal relationship to the axis of the positive electrode.

33. Light projection apparatus comprising opposed electrodes arranged to have an arc discharge produced therebetween, and pole pieces disposed around said electrodes respectively, one of said pole pieces being eccentric to the corresponding electrode.

3* Light projection apparatus comprising opposed arc electrodes disposed out of DANIEL F. COMSTOC K. 

